BMW E46 M3, what is it to you, iconic, overrated, epic etc.?
Discussion
They're getting a bit of an image problem as they are entering the price bracket where people who cannot afford the running costs are buying them, and there's quite a few been subject to the 'innit' treatment. I think this will kill quite a few of them off in the coming years. Once the tatty ones have died in a it'll come out the other side regarded as one of the greats, I reckon.
I'm not bothered about the image so much but although I think I'd enjoy driving it more than my current car, but would enjoy owning it less due to the financial burden of running it. If circumstances allowed however, it'd be my perfect all round car.
I'm not bothered about the image so much but although I think I'd enjoy driving it more than my current car, but would enjoy owning it less due to the financial burden of running it. If circumstances allowed however, it'd be my perfect all round car.
Brilliant cars, and excellent value for money at the moment IMO. I think much of the criticism (although maybe not here) comes from those who haven't driven them, but:
- don't like the idea of their 3-series origins
- think they're boring due to ubiquity
- don't like to be seen picking the default option
Yes, they are a little dated looking, but then so was the E36 a few years ago and look what's happening the demand for those now, as they're beginning to change from dated to classic. Also, I'll never forget the first time I saw an E46 M3 on a street in Lytham back in 2001, and random people were swarming around it to get a closer look
Putting a carbon air-box on it is well worth the money too if you want to upgrade the noise
- don't like the idea of their 3-series origins
- think they're boring due to ubiquity
- don't like to be seen picking the default option
Yes, they are a little dated looking, but then so was the E36 a few years ago and look what's happening the demand for those now, as they're beginning to change from dated to classic. Also, I'll never forget the first time I saw an E46 M3 on a street in Lytham back in 2001, and random people were swarming around it to get a closer look
Putting a carbon air-box on it is well worth the money too if you want to upgrade the noise
Shaoxter said:
Doesn't feel very quick when you've driven faster metal and not yet classic territory so a bit meh from my point of view.
However considering what they're going for these days they're very good value considering what else is out there.
Totally agree, was not too excited by the drive, they don`t feel that quick to me and not very special inside at all but still tempting for the £8k or so they cost now. I hate the metallic knackered sound they make though.However considering what they're going for these days they're very good value considering what else is out there.
p1tse said:
a great responses
I know different type of car but the new merc a45 amg and golf r are sub 5 seconds on paper, and deliver probably less drama and character, but on the flip side cost less to fuel at double mpg and half the servicing cost i would imagine
And whats the price of a new a45 Amg or golf R compared to a 9-10 year old e46 M3?I know different type of car but the new merc a45 amg and golf r are sub 5 seconds on paper, and deliver probably less drama and character, but on the flip side cost less to fuel at double mpg and half the servicing cost i would imagine
I've had mine for over 4 years now and in that time I've put 40k miles on it.
I'll start by saying that I like it more now than I did when I bought it, and i liked it a lot in the early days. Now that I've done a lot of fast road driving in this country and on the continent, mainly autobahns, autoroutes and lots of Alpine roads, I can tell you that it is a wonderful car. It has beautiful balance, great turn-in, communicative yet benign steering that just gets better when you pile on the speed. The engine is terrific; energetic, responsive, relatively linear and very smooth. It is especially vivacious at mid to 7000rpm. It's also utterly reliable and solid IME. It feels so strong and steady when accelerating hard and never feels slack. At just over 80k miles it really feels as good as the first day I bought it. Love it. The manual transmission is good when warmed up and again trouble free for me. As an allrounder it is hard to beat, BMW really nailed it with this car. It can be used everyday for mundane duties but it delivers enough fireworks to be enjoyable when off duty. I would also say that it's car that should be driven fast, 100-160mph, mile after mile after mile. It really rewards over a great distance at these speeds. Great cars if you keep them well maintained, i.e ensure that the valve clearances are sorted, alignment is spot on or as close to spot on as possible and that it has decent rubber. I can recommend!
I'll start by saying that I like it more now than I did when I bought it, and i liked it a lot in the early days. Now that I've done a lot of fast road driving in this country and on the continent, mainly autobahns, autoroutes and lots of Alpine roads, I can tell you that it is a wonderful car. It has beautiful balance, great turn-in, communicative yet benign steering that just gets better when you pile on the speed. The engine is terrific; energetic, responsive, relatively linear and very smooth. It is especially vivacious at mid to 7000rpm. It's also utterly reliable and solid IME. It feels so strong and steady when accelerating hard and never feels slack. At just over 80k miles it really feels as good as the first day I bought it. Love it. The manual transmission is good when warmed up and again trouble free for me. As an allrounder it is hard to beat, BMW really nailed it with this car. It can be used everyday for mundane duties but it delivers enough fireworks to be enjoyable when off duty. I would also say that it's car that should be driven fast, 100-160mph, mile after mile after mile. It really rewards over a great distance at these speeds. Great cars if you keep them well maintained, i.e ensure that the valve clearances are sorted, alignment is spot on or as close to spot on as possible and that it has decent rubber. I can recommend!
A jack of all trades car for me. It can do everything moderately well but is spectacular at nothing. Not special enough to be a weekend machine IMO but as a solution to a sole car for everyday use, it is very good.
It is more fast GT than proper sportscar so depends what you are after. Personally I found the manual gearbox clunky, steering lifeless and engine not as special as made out.
It is more fast GT than proper sportscar so depends what you are after. Personally I found the manual gearbox clunky, steering lifeless and engine not as special as made out.
SidewaysSi said:
A jack of all trades car for me. It can do everything moderately well but is spectacular at nothing. Not special enough to be a weekend machine IMO but as a solution to a sole car for everyday use, it is very good.
Surely that's all relative to what you have previously owned or driven but I can't say I view a M3 as anything less than special. It's a big step up from a 330 and enough people wax lyrical about those. For me, it's an iconic car that is on the list of must own even if it's only a few months.
They were a great car, a worthwhile improvement over the E36 and now is the time to buy one whilst there are still a few decent ones left. Too many are owned by morons who run them on a mismatch of part worn budget tyres, cheap coilovers etc so a nice 3-4 owner car that's still in original condition with a decent history is worth buying, even if it does need cosmetic tidying - I doubt they will be cheaper than they are now. The E46 M3 was the last of the proper ones imo as opposed to being just a very fast 3 Series. The E92 feels like a big tank in comparison, fast but somehow not that interesting - it came, went and nobody really noticed or cared. I'd go for Phoenix yellow or Laguna Seca blue, non SMG on the 18 inch wheels. Mint low mileage CSL's are already touching 60k.
Are E36 M3's really appreciating in value?
Are E36 M3's really appreciating in value?
I had one nearly new in 2005. In between a heavily modified Impreza and a lightly modified Evo IX.
Nice looks, interior, comfort and grip on smooth roads, equipment, engine, gearbox, rear diff.
Poor suspension travel made it slow on a bumpy B road, and the standard pads deposited themselves in a juddery mess over the discs like no other performance car.
As a performance car, I thought it was an overrated piece of junk. Never trusted forums and journalists since.
Nice looks, interior, comfort and grip on smooth roads, equipment, engine, gearbox, rear diff.
Poor suspension travel made it slow on a bumpy B road, and the standard pads deposited themselves in a juddery mess over the discs like no other performance car.
As a performance car, I thought it was an overrated piece of junk. Never trusted forums and journalists since.
No torque, slow at low revs but when really pressing on its a good car with a great engine.
Falling into chav territory now.
I think its got to the point where a mint e36 coupe now gets my attention and is more the car with more class.
But, as a performance bargain a £7k m3 is hard to beat.
Falling into chav territory now.
I think its got to the point where a mint e36 coupe now gets my attention and is more the car with more class.
But, as a performance bargain a £7k m3 is hard to beat.
Urban Sports said:
jonah35 said:
No torque, slow at low revs.
That's not really true though is it?
the bottom line is they aren't that lively at low revs and they aren't meant to be as they are designed for top end fireworks its as simple as that and you cant have it both ways so there has to be a trade off. I've had three, the first being when they were still the current model and two more in the following years. SMG and manual. I'm not a BMW/M3 fan boy by any means as in fact I don't particularly the other M cars BMW have made! The E46 M3 always stood out to me as being right in every aspect and my first drive confirmed it; it's a car that grows on you over time and makes a really very competent daily. Everyone will tell you they do it all so well, and it's just so bloody true, but don't let that fool you into thinking its a compromised performance car.
My only criticism is that in standard form they need more power and the suspension is a tiny bit too soft, but regardless they can be pushed on at an impressive rate of knots. There is great potential underneath however and with a number of well-chosen modifications they become indecently good.
I still love driving mine even after buying a supercar. I knew if I were to sell it I'd regret it!
My only criticism is that in standard form they need more power and the suspension is a tiny bit too soft, but regardless they can be pushed on at an impressive rate of knots. There is great potential underneath however and with a number of well-chosen modifications they become indecently good.
I still love driving mine even after buying a supercar. I knew if I were to sell it I'd regret it!
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